NEW DELHI: The Central Vigilance Commission has favoured a CBI probe into a multi-crore forest scam in Haryana involving some powerful politicians and bureaucrats.

Reverting to the Environment Ministry's request, the CVC has advised it to ask the Haryana government to file an FIR after which the case can be transferred to CBI.

The CVC's advice came after the CBI informed the CVC that it has found the charges levelled by an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer "worthy" of an independent probe.

"...the Ministry is advised to take up the matter of registration of FIR with the State Government and subsequent transfer of the case to the CBI," the CVC said in a communication to the Environment Ministry.

The Ministry had referred the matter to the CVC after an in-house inquiry found merit in allegations levelled by IFS officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi that there was corruption in the setting up of a herbal park on the private land of a legislator under pressure from a state Cabinet Minister.

Chaturvedi also alleged financial irregularities like siphoning off of funds to the tune of crores of rupees in plantation at the park in 2007 and 2008.

After Chaturvedi blew the whistle, he was frequently transferred and he complained of harassment to President Pratibha Patil, who referred it to the Cabinet Secretariat.

Acting on the directions of the Cabinet Secretariat, the Environment Ministry in 2010 constituted a two-member panel headed by Inspector General of Forests A K Srivastava which confirmed the harassment of Chaturvedi and recommended quashing of the chargesheet and referring the matter immediately to the CBI for the impartial investigation.

The chargesheet was quashed by President on January 19. Haryana had rejected the findings of the inquiry panel and asked the Union Ministry to have a fresh look at the case. The Centre had rejected the demand.